MacDuffie School sixth-graders host bake sale to raise money for Toy for Joy

Photo by Don Treeger / The RepublicanHere are members of the sixth-grade class at the MacDuffie School who have donated to Toys for Joy. In the back row, left to right, are Andre Fraser, Jack Blanton, Chazz Upchurch, Liam Noble and Maddy Duke. In the middle row are Emma Jones, Natalie Pappas, Rohini Loke, Sanjiti Johari, Darien Guy and Sophie Gourley. In front are Skyler Anderson-Coughlin, and Lyusi Abrahamyan.

By JIM KINNEY
jkinney@repub.com

SPRINGFIELD - Sixth-grade students at The MacDuffie School used a bake sale and a 50/50 raffle to raise the $25 they donated to the Toy for Joy campaign.

"We felt we should do something for a charity," said Rohini Loke, 11, of Longmeadow, one of two presidents of the class.

Darien J. Guy, also 11, of Indian Orchard, the other class president said "We really wanted to help the little kids who don't have anything. We have so much."

(Click on coupon to enlarge.)

The MacDuffie School is a private school in Springfield serving grades 6 through 12.

Aimee B. Stone, the private school's lead 6th grade teacher, said the 13 students raised not only enough for the $25 Toy for Joy donation, but also enough to donate two turkeys to the Gray House, a charity with a food pantry on Sheldon Street in Springfield's North End.

"We talk to them a lot about kids in need in our area," Stone said. "They saw that so they wanted to help out."

She said the students are aware of the bad economy and the impact it is having on families less fortunate then theirs.

"This is one of the first class where they aren't thinking of themselves at all.," Stone said. "They want all of their money to go towards donating in the local area."

Some $131,435 still remains to be raised by Christmas Eve in order to meet this season's $150,000 goal.

Other contributors in the latest list include $25 in memory of the six Worcester firefighters.

For more information on Toy for Joy, call the Salvation Army at (413) 733-1518.

To make a contribution, write to Toy for Joy, P.O. Box 3007, Springfield, MA 01102. Contributions may also be dropped off with the coupon at The Republican, 1860 Main St., Springfield, weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Contributions will be taken in person at the newspaper until noon on Dec. 24.